St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-18
THOMAS THE HORSES LESSON.

Awriter in the Springfield Republican
tells the story of a boy named Felix
and how he cured horse of the trick
of rolling in the mud.
/ "What does he always do,n SAYS Fe-
| lix. 'sif he can slip his halter, but to
roll in the duck pond 7 He is the most
aggravating horse that ever lived. |
have dressed him off twice this morn
ing and fastened him so that | thought
it impossible for him to get away, and
each time he slipped his halter-it
would take a witch to tell how he man.
aged it-and ran away. Yesterday /
groomed him three times, and each
time, before / could get him harnessed,
he escaped, and rolled alternately in
the barn yard, the duck pond and the
middle of the sandy road. 1t is time
l came up with him out of mischief"
Returning to the barn he found the
pet horse reeking with slime, but
bringing out the oldest and shabbiest
of the farm harnesses he put it upon
him, and then going to the chaise
house he drew out the very best car
riage, shining with varnish.
When Tom was well gro0med and
adorned with the best gold mounted
harness, Felix was in the habit of say
ing he would almost hitch himself into
any of the carriages. He liked pleas
uring as well as any .schOOl-bO or girl,
would eat as much cake or candy at a
picnic, and allow himself to be gar
landed from nose to tail. But he dis
liked farm work as cordially as any
growing lad, always drew long breath
like a prOtracted sigh when the work.
collar was put over his slim head, and
would roll his great eyes about at the
hay wagon, sand cart and cultivatOr,
as if wondering what form his humilia-
ton was to take.
He looked at the carriage now, turn
ed his long neck as if to survey him
self, shook his hide like an elephant,
and rebelled against being backed be-
tween the shafts but there was no
help for it; he was to go to town in an
outfit of his own choosing.
His mistress came out, looked him
over, scolded him and refused him the
sugar she had brought him as usual.
Ruth followed in her fresh, white
gown, pausing long enough in front of
the poor horse to tell him that she was
ashamed of him, and then without a
kind word or a caress mounted to the
seat beside her brother and
they drove away.
Instead of pricking up his ears and
speeding along the pleasant country
road as daintily as if he was stepping
upon eggs, Tom was reluctant to go at
all, looked wistfully down every by
way, and at the watering trough said,
as plainly as horse could say, that
he intended to turn around and go
home; but curb and bit restrained him
and he was compelled to drone along
the two miles to the village.
There Felix called little circle of
his acquaintances about and told them
the story, whereupon they walked
around the poor horse, laughing, and
ridiculing him, until he looked ready
to sink under his load of shame.
When, at length, they started for
home, he went as if his feet were
winged, and when detached from the
carriage he rushed for the place where
he was accustomed to be grOOmed and
when made clean walked decOrOusly
to his stall.
Strange and improbable as this may
seem, Tom was entirely broken of
his dirty trick by this device, and Fee
lix affirms that he has never since been
able to lead him within a rod at least
of the duck pond.